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NavSource Online: Service Ship Photo Archive

USS Besboro (AG-66)

International Radio Call Sign:
November - Quebec - Quebec - Sierra NQQS

Awards, Citations and Campaign Ribbons

Precedence of awards is from left to right
American Campaign Medal - Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal - World War II Victory Medal

Camanga Class Miscellaneous Auxiliary

Completed in December 1918 as SS Caddopeak at Albina Engine and Machine Works Inc., Portland, OR.

Delivered to the (USSB) United States Shipping Board

Renamed SS Cook 1922 to 1923

Renamed SS Nelson 1923 to 1937

Renamed SS Lurline Burns 1937 to 1943

Acquired by the War Shipping Administration, 8 June 1943 from Burns Steamship Co

Commissioned, USS Besboro (AG-66), 22 September 1943, at Seattle, WA., LCDR. Robert M. Baughman, USNR, in command

During World War II USS Besboro was assigned to the Asiatic-Pacific Theater

Decommissioned, 3 May 1946, at San Francisco, CA.

Transferred to the War Shipping Administration, 1 July 1946, for disposal

Struck from the Naval Register, 8 October 1946

Sold, 23 May 1947, to Waterman Steamship Corp. name restored to SS Lurline Burns

Sold in 1948 to Wellem & Co. Hong Kong BCC, renamed SS Shapur, reflagged Panamanian

Final Disposition, fate unknown no record of ship after 1961

Specifications
Displacement 1,716 t.(lt) 5,500 t.(fl)
Length 300'
Beam 44'
Draft 19' 4" (lim.)
Speed 9 kts.

Complement

Officers 8

Enlisted 57

Troop Accommodations 340

Largest Boom Capacity 20 t.

Armament

three single 3"/50 cal dual purpose gun mounts

four single 20mm AA gun mounts

Fuel Capacity NSFO 4,280 Bbls

Propulsion

one Albina vertical triple-expansion reciprocating steam engine

two Scotch, single end boilers, 180psi Sat.

two 60Kw 120V D.C. Ship's Service Generators

single propeller, 1,600shp

Click On Image For Full Size Image	Size	Image Description	Source
Pre-WWII Merchant Service Waterman SS Corp.
	83k	SS Lurline Burns underway sometime between 1937 and the outbreak of World War II. US National Archives photo # 19-N-52560, a US Navy Bureau of Ships photo now in the collections of the US National Archives NARA: RG-19-LCM), courtesy Shipscribe.com.	Robert Hurst
USS Besboro (AG-66)
	142k	*USS Besboro* (AG-66)** underway near Naval Station, Seattle, WA., 13 October 1943, soon after commissioning. As a merchant ship she retained her original rig and long shelter deck, although the rig appears to have been strengthened for handling lumber. US National Archives photo # 19-N-52560, a US Navy Bureau of Ships photo now in the collections of the US National Archives RG-19-LCM, photo #'s 19-N- 52563 & 19-N-52562 & 19-N-52564, US Navy Bureau of Ships photos now in the collection of the US National Archives, courtesy Shipscribe.com.	Robert Hurst
	126k
	153k

USS Besboro Crew Photos
Contributed by Jeff Perry

USS Besboro (AG-66)
Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships (DANFS)

Commanding Officers

01 LCDR. Baughman, Robert Martin, USNR 22 September 1943 - 8 June 1944

02 LCDR. Jessen, George, USNR 8 June 1944 - 9 October 1945

03 LT. Williams, George Henry, USN 9 October 1945 - 3 May 1946

Courtesy Wolfgang Hechler and Ron Reeves

Crew Contact And Reunion Information
U.S. Navy Memorial Foundation - Navy Log

Additional Web Sites of Interest
MARAD Vessel History Data Base

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This page is created and maintained by Gary P. Priolo

Last Updated 6 November 2020

Commanding Officers
01	LCDR. Baughman, Robert Martin, USNR	22 September 1943 - 8 June 1944
02	LCDR. Jessen, George, USNR	8 June 1944 - 9 October 1945
03	LT. Williams, George Henry, USN	9 October 1945 - 3 May 1946